Page:Don Coronado through Kansas.djvu/202

191 A SUMMER'S EECREATION. .. „ 191 ' this ihcj did to the heart's content of both parties. ^ July in Kansas is a trying month; it is hot, and no doubt if anything was more so then. So is there any wonder that the commander of the party as well as the soldiers were unanimously in favor of taking a rest and seeing some recreation if possible? And there was lots of it; yea, verily, some of the soldiers ^soldier-like) were in lieavea upon earth. They had sweethearbs and sweethearts. There was something going on all the while, for the Indian chief called into the city or village all of his warriors, which on the second day af ber the arrival of the strangers amount- ■ed to about 2,000. These were as fine a specimen of stalwart young men as can be found any place in the world, perhaps with the exception of their kindred, the Osage, who it is said were models physically, but they will be introduced to you hereafter. J No attempt is going to be made to hare you be- lieve these Eed Men and women of the prairie were able to give banquets, but in their rude manner they aU united to treat their visitors royally. This was <lone by the hunters of the tribes oofostantly bringing in all kinds of game; then the women, who did the menial work and farming, brought from the rich nook along the stream corn, beans, pnmpMns and last, but the most important, lusdous (the word is used advis- edly), yes luscious! for although the potato is not a fruit, yet it is the most valuable and palata^ile vegeta- ble* known to man; and remember, th^ iSpaniards knew nothing of this tuber, for at this early period it had not reached Europe and did not for quite a time after ward. The potato and maiae are natives of